A $600m casino project proposed by the Tejon Indian Tribe won the approval of California Governor Gavin Newsome but still may face possible opposition from neighboring tribes, as well as legislative approval for construction to begin.
The governor recently signed a bill into law that exempts certain tribal gaming projects from being subject to review under the terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Final approval will be determined by a placeholder bill called B910 that includes an amendment ratifying the previously signed gambling agreement. Lawmakers must ratify the governor’s signed agreement with the with the US Secretary of the Interior that determined the land for the facility be held in trust for the tribe and is appropriate for gaming.
The Tejon tribe plans to construct the casino in connection with Hard Rock International. The hotel and casino will contain 3,000 slots within its 166,500 square feet of gambling space. It will be part of a 320-acre complex that also includes a health care facility, housing and administrative space.
The tribe anticipates that the new 11-story facility will have a positive effect on the local economy.
California Senator Melissa Hurtado said she is "cautiously optimistic" that B910 will pass despite possible concerns raised by other local tribes.
"It's not done until it's done, and it's not done yet," she said.
Hurtado co-wrote the bill with Assemblyman Rudy Salas, who said the details that postponed Sacramento’s project approval in 2021 have been resolved.
Salas commented in an official statement: "This bill addresses the concerns from last year and mitigates impacts to the local community while bringing shared prosperity and community benefits to the state and Kern County.”
Senator Shannon Grove and Assemblyman Vince Fong also assisted in authoring B910.
Tejon Indian Tribe Chairman Octavio Escobedo III said in a statement released by the tribe: "This has been a long but worthwhile journey for the tribe.
"These decisions were necessary and significant steps toward the development of a tribal homeland for our tribe, which has been landless for more than 150 years."
Pending legislative approval, the federal Department of the Interior would commence a 45-day review per the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Construction of the casino hotel from start to finish would take an estimated 18 to 20 months to complete. A start date has not been confirmed at this time.
